The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-11

mystery when he reached the carriage.
Parker had been right-the little en-
graved locket lay open on the floor;
but beside it lay something, at the
sight OF which the mans heart gave
great throb. A little curly head, n
pair OF sweet blue eyes, u soft, uncer
tain voice trying to stammer the word
"Ma-ma!" They all rose wildly be-
fore him rs he stood there with the
tiny ring OF silky brown hair lying on
his open palm. And it was Madge
who had cherished the curl which his
own lips had seemed to press so much
oitener than had hers! Madge, who
had thought to keep the token that
he had forgotten and since had regret.
ted so vaniy. Well, before they had
parted, he must ask her to halve her
treasure with him.
There were very tender memories
stirring within him as he plodded his
way back to the station, and when he
at last reached the little room his face
was very gentle, albeit very grave.
Eyes, have it, Parker. Thank you.
II you 20 into the larger room
| will sit with your mis-
l tress," he said, in regard to the maids
HPnxious greeting; and when he and
tdge were alone he pulled his chair
0ser to hers and began gravely:
Here is your locliet."
"Thank YOU" she said, coldly. al
hope it was not g very difficult mat
ter to get to the carriage"
Challoner bit his lip. ado you think
j minded the difficulty" he retorted,
passionately "Don't you know I'd
have risked my life for the sake OF res
cuing this?" He had laid the locket
on the table, but as he spoke he open
ed his cenched hand, and the soft curl
glistened brightly in the freight.
Madge started violently. "You
opened it?"
"No; it had opened itself by falling
on the floor" He leaned forward and
looked at her curiously. "And you
cared to keep it, Madge9"
"Did ,I-care?"
Only fhree words, but the tone went
straight to her husbands heart. So
she had cared after all. and yet
"You went out again so SOON" he
said doubtfully.
"And could help that" The girl
clasped her hands and looked steadi-
ly at him with great sorrowful eyes.
"You were always with your books;
and could ! bear to live alone in these
rooms, where every chair that
her hands had touched, every picture
that her eyes had seen, spoke to me OF
my lost darling? No; / would 90 to
dances, theatres, anywhere where she
had never been, and therefore could
not haunt me-"
rnhX ou might have come to me?"
TO your" The dreary little laugh
with which she echoed his words was
not good to hear. "You had your
work. You had never asked me to go
to the library; you had always left
me alone"
Challoner's face had grown very
white. "Madge," he said solemnly,
"God is my witness that il | have
wronged you, it was through a mis-.
taken love, and not through careless
ness. When we-married the loving
stress he laid upon the word was not
lost upon the girl, although her face
was turned from him, Sarah impress
ed upon me that if / pursued plan
/ had already suggested to her, and
asked you to act as my secretary, i
should be dealing unfairly in letting
|you expend your youth and spirits
on me and on my work, instead OF on
the amusements and society life which
was natural to your age"
His very anxiety was making him
speak in q stiff, unusual fashion, but
the little clasped hands moved rest.
essly at his words. 81 should have
loved the work"
The nNrmur was too soft for the
other to catch, and he went on slow
ly: Brightly or wrongly believed her.
| said to myself: You are a poor
man and must work hard; but how
ever great the strain may be it must
never touch your wife. If you cannot
take her out yourself let your cousin
do so in your stead. let"
Don't talk like that-don't talk
like that" Madge had risen to her
ulpsr and the words came with an ire
pressible sob. She waited full min
ute and then added: at makes one
wish things had been different-al-
most"
When Challoner spoke again it was
after long pause. "When did you
rut this curl?"
"On your birthday" said Madge
with an effort to speak easily. 81
brought her into your room, and she
was dressed all in white"
II thought it was blue"
mo, John; all in white, with coral